Frame stabilizer for embroidery machines



April 19, 1966 llll? s A. G. BIBERFELD FRAME STABILIZER FOR EMBROIDERY MACHINES Filed Jan. 21, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ALMA-a 6. B/BEEFEZD ATTORNEY A M a im l! A ril 19, 1966 A..G. BIBERFELD 3,246,617

FRAME STABILIZER FOR EMBROIDERY MACHINES Filed Jan. 21, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 41mm 6' Ems/emu ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,246,617 FRAME STABILIZER FQR EMBRUKDERY MACHINE Alfred G. Biberfeld, Fort Lee, N.J., assiguor to LAS.

Bicor Corporation, West New York, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Jan. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 426,731 12 Claims. (til. 11290) This invention relates to embroidery machine frame stabilizers, and is particularly, although not exclusively, directed to Schiflii embroidery machines having a structural frame extending longitudinally of the machine and movable with the operative embroidery movements of the apparatus.

Machines of the above-mentioned category are always faced with the danger of excessive frame oscillations with corresponding overmovements and consequent overstitching in the region of the middle of the frame. This results in distorted patterns of the embroidered Work, a condition which becomes progressively worse with increasing operative machine speeds. With suitable frameoscillating controls it is thus necessary to limit the speed of operation to a point at which such excessive oscillatory movements do not occur, thereby correspondingly Limiting the production capacity of the machine. Attempts have been made to control such undesirable oscillations, but these have had limited effectiveness in that the various expedients employed are able to effect only partial controls, especially at high speeds, excessive oscillations not being eliminated but merely reduced. It has been found that the known oscillation control mechanisms are not effective at speeds beyond 110 rpm. or thereabouts. The seriousness of the problem of excessive oscillations at high speeds has resulted in the use of makeshift and non-direct acting devices, such as braking mechanisms applied to the steel bands and coil springs of embroidery machines, and complicated and expensive suspension and frame-guiding systems which have not proven satisfactory for the high speeds required for successful competitive operation.

It is the object of my invention to present an embroidery machine frame stabilizer system having none of the inherent limitations and shortcomings of known devices in this category, and which is capable of effecting frame oscillation controls at relatively high machine speeds. It has been found, for example, that the speeds of standard embroidery machines in which my frame stabilizer invention was installed were increased from 110 rpm. to 160 rpm. without any distortion in the embroidered patterns. In the accomplishment of the aforesaid objective I have provided a device that acts directly on and effects precise movement control of the center of the frame, thereby preventing all undesirable, and excessive vertical frame movements and eliminating feathering action and adverse vibration of the balance coil spring.

It is another object of my invention to make it adaptable for use on all types of machines of the above-mentioned category, both new and old, for raising the maximum optimum machine speeds with absolutely accurate registry.

Another object of this invention is to provide a constant yieldable support for the frame, thereby not only to cause an operative dampening effect on any oscillating forces that may be present, but also to provide a safety cushion in the event of a breakage of the machines coil spring or steel hands.

And it is my further objective to provide a relatively simple, inexpensive and readily installed device having the above-stated advantages.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawings and the description hereinafter given.

Referring to the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of an embroidery machine embodying my invention, the yarn spools and other conventional feeding and operative mechanisms being omitted, fragments being broken away for clarity, other conventional parts being semischematically shown, the bowed dot-dash line indicating a theoretical vertically displaced position of the truss constituting part of the machine frame.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the medial portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the truss, top center beam and stabilizer device.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section of FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical cross-section of one of the restricted-orifice valves used with the hydraulic restraining member shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a semi-schematic vertical section of the stabilizer device adapted for combinative use with an embroidery machine, showing by dot-dash lines two opposite positions of the hydraulic piston rod.

FIG. 6 is a view of the device of FIG. 4 in one of its operative positions, the device being shown operatively attached to the frame and stationary beam.

FIG. 7 is a view like FIG. 5, but showing the device in another operative position.

In the particular embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, the embroidery machine, generally designated 9, contains the stationary top center beam 10, the movable frame 11 containing the beam 12 which extends longitudinally of the machine and is structurally connected to said frame in known manner, the particular beam illustrated being a truss having the upper bow member 13 and other structural elements known to those skilled in the art. The said stationary beam 10 is of conventional construct-ion and is supported by the posts 5 and 6 and attached to the lateral stationary structural members 7 and 8 in conventional manner.

The said machine operatively supports the rollers 14 and 15 on which is mounted the upper fabric sheet 16 being embroidered, and the rollers 17 and 18 on which is mounted the lower fabric sheet 19 also being embroidered. The entire frame 11 and the rollably supported sheets 16 and 19 are movable vertically and longitudinally to permit embroidering operations to be performed by needles and shuttles not shown, it being deemed unnecessary for an understanding of the present invention to illustrate in detail the various operating members of the apparatus since they are known to those skilled in the art. Sufiice it to say, for the purpose of this specification, that said frame 11 is operatively connected to the respective horizontal and vertical toothed racks 2t and 21 in opera tive engagement with the respective gears 22 and 23 whose movements are controlled by a pattern mechanism, like a jacquard apparatus, contained within the casing 24. The rapid horizontal and vertical operative movements of the entire frame 11 and associated parts are thus effected by the control apparatus in casing 24--the vertical movements tending to cause the vertical oscillations of the beam 12, the dotdash bowed line 1301 showing, for illustrative purposes, a theoretical upper limiting position of the how 13 during such an uncontrolled oscillatory movemeat.

It is because of the mass of the frame 11 and its beam 12 that there is a tendency for the long-span beam to flex and oscillate in accordance with its own natural frequency during the operative movements of the frame and associated parts, the maximum oscillatory deflection of the beam 12if not restrainedoccurring at its medial portion, as illustrated by said dot-dash line 13a of FIG. 1. It should also be noted that since the frame 11 is operatively actuated vertically and horizontally, a given point on the beam 12 will move diagonally with respect to the longitudinal extent of the machine, as will more clearly hereinafter appear. It is the combination of the stabilizing device, generally referred to by the reference numeral 25, the said movable beam 12 and the said stationary beam that constitutes my novel apparatus for restraining undesirable oscillations of the massive frame 11 and its beam 12 without interfering with the operative embroidering movements of the machine.

The said stabilizing device is a yieldable restraining member pivotally mounted on the said stationary beam 10 and pivotally connected to the movable beam 12 and rockable therewith. The particular form illustrated is an hydraulic dampening apparatus having a vertical cylinder 26, a plunger or piston 27 and, among other members, a piston rod 28 operatively movable through a conventional packing gland 29 at the top of the cylinder, the top of the piston rod having a clevis 30 pivotally connected to the pin 31 attached to the bracket 32 clamped on to the said bow 13 of the truss 12. Attached to the bottom of the cylinder 26 is the clevis 30a pivotally connected to the pin 33 extending from the mounting 34 aflixed to the bracket 35 attached to and supported by the said top center beam 10. The arrangement is hence such that the cylinder 26 is pivotally supported at its bottom by the said stationary beam 10, the cylinder being rockable about said pin 33 as an axis, the rocking movement being imparted thereto by the operative horizontal movements of the beam 12 and its bow member 13, such rocking movements being transmitted to the cylinder 26 by the said piston rod 28 pivotally connected to the said bow 13 at its midpoint 13m (see FIG. 1). As will be seen from FIG. 5, the piston rod 28 moves between the dot-dash positions 28a and 2811 during the operative rocking movement of the cylinder 26, whereby the clevis 30 at the top of the piston rod moves along the diagonal path represented by the dot-dash line 36 as the piston rod operatively moves up and down during the operative vertical movement of the center point 13m of the truss how 13.

As will be seen from FIGS. 3 and 5, there are two pipes 37 and 38 connected to the respective upper and lower portions 39 and 40 of the cylinder 26, said pipes 37 and 38 being connected to the conventional flow control valves 41 and 42, respectively, to .be hereinbelow described. A pipe 43 connects said valves, and is in communication with the reservoir 44 open to the atmosphere. The said valves 41 and 42 have the respective control knobs 45 and 46 to regulate their respective effective orifice areas. The cylinder 26 and the reservoir 44 contain preferably oil of suitable consistency therein to permit proper coaction between the said valves 41, 42 and the piston 27.

The valve 42, which is identical to valve 41, permits a flow of said fluid in the direction of arrow A (FIGS. 4, 5 and 6), the fluid entering at port 47 and flowing through passageways 48, 49, 50, 51, 52 and out through port 53 to enter the valve 41 from which it flows through pipe 37 into the top of the cylinder 26. The needle valve 54 is disposed within the said passageway 51 which constitutes the restricted orifice of the valve, the position of the needle valve, as regulated by turning the knob 46 in known manner, determining the rate of flow of the fluid from said port 47 to port 53. The valve 41 permits a similar regulated restricted return flow from the upper part of the cylinder 26 downwardly from pipe 37 through pipe 43 to port 53 of valve 42 in the direction of arrow B. The return flow from port 53 of valve 42 to port 47 occurs through passageway 52 past the poppet valve 55 against the action of the light spring 56-the flow continuing to the bottom of the cylinder 26.

From the above it is evident that upon a downward operative movement of the piston 27, the fluid will be forced through the said restricted orifice 51 through the valve 41 (against the light resistance of a spring like said spring 56) to enter the top of cylinder 26. The said orifice 51 thus provides a yieldable resistance of predetermined magnitude to the downward movement of the piston, thereby yieldably restraining any flexing and any oscillation of the beam 12 beyond its predetermined normal operative movement. Similarly, When the piston 27 is operatively moved upwardly by the operative upward movement of the frame, it will encounter a yieldable resistance of predetermined magnitude, to effect a restraining influence on the beam 12. Any excess fluid due to the displacement thereof caused by the piston rod 28 will be operatively received by the reservoir 44, which is open to the atmosphere, the fluid in said reservoir gravitationally flowing back to either end of the cylinder when negative pressures are induced therein.

The setting of the needles of each of said valves 41 and 42 is determined for the particular characteristics of the machine to which this stabilizer is applied, so as to permit the operative movement of the fluid through pipes 37 and 38 under the action of the piston 27 for the normal operative movements of the beam 12.

Since the cylinder 26 continues its operative rocking movement in conformity with the horizontal frame movements, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, there is no interference whatsoever with the embroidering operations of the machine. The machine accordingly continues its operative movements without any of the undesirable deflections and oscillations of the beam 12 due to high-speed operation, thereby producing uniform and undistorted embroidered patterns.

It is further to be noted that since the piston rod 28 is at all times attached to the beam 12, the entire frame 11 is always yieldably supported by the fluid in the cylinder 26. Thus, should the steel bands or coil spring of the machine (which are conventional components of an embroidery machine and known to those skilled in the art), accidentally break, the frame will be cushioned in its consequent drop, thereby preventing the damage that would occur from a sudden uncontrolled drop of the frame.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated is readily adaptable for use with embroidery machines of the above described category without any need to mutilate or alter the form, construction or arrangement of the machine. All that is required, for either new or old machines, is to pivotally clamp the top of the piston 27 to the said bow member 13 of the frame beam 12 and to pivotally attach the bottom of the cylinder 26 to the stationary beam 10 in the manner hereinabove described. With such a simple assembly operation the frame 11 is thus readily provided with the stabilizing device of my invention. It is especially noteworthy that the adjustment of the stabilizing device to a machine can be effected, for any selected speed of operation, simply by turning the knobs 45 and 46 to positions at which undesirable oscillatory flexing of the frames beam 10 is eliminated through the dampening effect above described. Thus my invention is not only simple to install on conventional machines, but is also easy to ad ust to the required speeds and oscillatory characteristic; of the machine, without any special manipulatory s '1 In the above description, the invention has been disclosed merely by way of example and in preferred manner; but obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any form or manner of practicing same, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an embroidery machine of the class having a stationary beam and a fabric-carrying frame operatively movable in response to pattern-controlling actuating means, the combination of said stationary beam, said movable frame and a frame stabilizer, said stabilizer having a restraining member connected at spaced portions thereof to said stationary beam and said movable frame, respectively, whereby said member will be movably actuated by the operative movements of said frame, said member having yieldable means exertin frame.

2. In an embroidery machine of the class having a stationary beam and a fabric-carrying frame operatively movable in response to pattern-controlling actuating means, the combination of said stationary beam, said movable frame and a frame stabilizer, said stabilizer having a restraining member pivotally connected at spaced portions thereof to said stationary beam and said movable frame, respectively, whereby said member will be rockably actuated by the operative movements of said frame, said member having yieldable means continuously exertin g a restraining effort on said frame.

3. In an embroidery machine of the class having a stationary beam and a fabric-carrying frame having an upper beam spaced above said stationary beam and operatively movble horizontally and vertically in response to patterncontrolling actuating means, the combination of said stationary beam, said movable frame and a frame stabilizer, said stabilizer having a restraining member with an upper portion pivotally connected to said upper beam and with a lower portion pivotally connected to said stationary beam, whereby said member will be rockably actuated by the operative movements of said frame, said member having yieldable means exerting a restraining effort on said upper beam of said frame.

4. In an embroidery machine, the combination according to claim 2, said restraining member being connected to said stationary beam and said frame in the region of the middle portion of the machine.

5. In an embroidery machine, the combination according to claim 3, the said upper beam of said frame comprising a truss having an upper bow member extending substantially along the longitudinal extent of the machine, said upper portion of said restraining member being connected to the medial portion of said bow member.

6. In an embroidery machine of the class having a stationary beam and a fabric-carrying frame having an upper beam spaced above said stationary beam and operatively movble horizontally and vertically in response to patterncontrolling actuating means, the combination of said stationary beam, said movable frame and a frame stabilizer, said stabilizer comprising a fluid-containing cylinder connected to said stationary beam, a piston operatively disposed within said cylinder, 2. piston rod attached to said piston and connected to said frame, and fluid-conducting means communicating with opposite end portions of said cylinder, whereby said cylinder and said piston rod will be operatively actuated by the operative movements of said frame and said piston will be operatively moved within said cylinder against the yieldable resistance of the fluid within said cylinder and fluid-conducting means, thereby exerting a restarining effort on said frame.

7. In an embroidery machine, the combination according to claim 6, said cylinder having a bottom portion pivotally conneced to said stationary beam, said piston rod having an upper portion pivotally attached to said upper beam, whereby said cylinder and said piston rod will be rockably actuated by the operative movements of said frame.

8. In an embroidery machine, the combination according to claim 6, said cylinder having a bottom portion pivotally connected to said stationary beam, said cylinder being normally vertically disposed, said piston rod having an upper portion pivotally attached to the medial portion of said upper beam, whereby said cylinder a restraining effort on said and said piston rod will be rockably actuated by the operative movements of said frame between opposite limiting inclined positions.

9. In an embroidery machine, the combination according to claim 6, the fluid-restricting valves connected to said fluid-conducting means for restricting the operative flow of said fluid between the said opposite end portions of said cylinder under the operative movements of said piston.

10. In an embroidery machine, the combination according to claim 6, said cylinder having a bottom portion pivotally connected to said stationary beam, said cylinder being normally vertically disposed, said piston rod having an upper portion pivotally attached to the medial portion of said upper beam, whereby said cylinder and said piston rod will be rockably actuated by the operative movements of said frame, and manually adjustable fluid-restricting valves connected to said fluid-conducting means for adjustably restricting the operative flow of said fluid between the said opposite end portions of said cylinder under the operative movements of said piston, whereby the fluid resistance to the vertical movements of said frame may be selectively varied.

11. In an embroidery machine, the combination according to claim 6, said cylinder having a bottom portion with a clevis affixed thereto, said stationary beam having a bracket carrying a pin pivotally connected to said clevis and supporting said cylinder, said cylinder being normally vertically disposed, said piston rod having at the upper portion thereof a clevis, a pin pivotally connected to said latter clevis and connected to the medial portion of said upper beam of said frame, whereby said cylinder and said piston rod will be rockably actuated by the operative movements of said frame between opposite limiting inclined 0 positions, and manually adjustable fluid restricting valves connected to said fluid-conducting means for adjustably restricting the operative flow of said fluid between the said opposite end portions of said cylinder under the operative 40 movements of said piston, whereby the fluid resistance to the vertical movements of said frame may be selectively varied.

12. In an embroidery machine of the class having a fabric-carrying frame operatively movable in response to pattern-controlling actuating means and a stationary structural member, the combination of said movable frame, said stationary member, a frame stabilizer and a connecting member associated with and operatively movable with said frame, said stabilizer having a restraining member connected at spaced portions thereof to said stationary member and said connecting member, respectively, where by said restraining member will be movably actuated by the operative movements of said frame, said rsetraining member having yieldable means exerting a restraining effort on said frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,604,953 7/ 1952 Campbell 18888.51 2,883,950 4/1959 Stobi 112-84X 3,030,100 4/1962 Wagner 188--88.51

3,072,083 1/1963 Conrad 11291 3,176,801 4/1965 Huff 18897 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

A. R. GUEST, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN EMBROIDERY MACHINE OF THE CLASS HAVING A STATIONARY BEAM AND A FABRIC-CARRYING FRAME OPERATIVELY MOVABLE IN RESPONSE TO PATTERN-CONTROLLING ACTUATING MEANS, THE COMBINATION OF SAID STATIONARY BEAM, SAID MOVABLE FRAME AND A FRAME STABILIZER, SAID STABILIZER HAVING A RESTRAINING MEMBER CONNECTED AT SPACED PORTIONS THEREOF TO SAID STATIONARY BEAM AND SAID MOVABLE FRAME, RESPECTIVELY, WHEREBY SAID MEMBER WILL BE MOVABLY ACTUATED BY THE OPERATIVE MOVEMENTS OF SAID FRAME, SAID MEMBER HAVING YIELDABLE MEANS EXERTING A RESTRAINING EFFORT ON SAID FRAME. 